How to comp a reel in D major - The Merry Blacksmith (Irish Bouzouki)

A tutorial on how to go about finding chords for an Irish reel, using the traditional tune 'The Merry Blacksmith' as an example. Note that though the specifics (tabs etc.) are for Irish bouzouki, the general concepts and techniques can be used for comping on any instrument.
I don't have a patreon but if you want to support the content you can tip at my ko-fi page here: ko-fi.com/eamonc
00:00 - Intro
00:17 - Melody
01:01 - Starting comp - Drones
02:28 - Demo
02:49 - Basic chords (I, IV, V)
05:12 - Demo
05:33 - Adding melodic movement
06:19 - Demo
06:40 - Chord Substitutions (relative minor)
07:37 - Demo
07:57 - Chord Substitutions continued
09:31 - Demo
09:52 - Following / working off the melody
11:06 - Demo
11:29 - End
#irishbouzouki #irishmusic #irishreel #folkmusic #lesson

[@davidmcgowan103]

By far the best video I've seen for explaining Bouzouki accompaniment. I think I'm finally getting it. Thank you

[@EamonCoughlan]

Thanks David, glad it's been useful!

[@EamonCoughlan]

In case anyone is wondering, I haven't actually become proficient in left-handed bouzouki over the past month! My new phone mirrors the video and I didn't realise until it was too far into the editing process to correct (since presumably nobody wants to read mirrored tab). I should be back through the looking glass for future videos.

[@MGWAIKIDOJITSU]

Brilliant rendition

[@EamonCoughlan]

@@MGWAIKIDOJITSU Thanks!

[@alastair6356]

Great ideas for playing bouzouki . I tuned my 12 string the first 4 sets of strings and drop the d sounds brilliant and so Celtic. Keep the tunes and ideas coming .🤩👍

[@EamonCoughlan]

Sounds similar to cittern / 5 course bouzouki tuning! Hoping to get one of those eventually.

[@batlin]

I must admit to throwing in a minor 9, a dim7 and some fourth voicings when accompanying on piano when my kids used to play the Munster Cloak... sometimes you can't resist trying something a bit jazzy!

[@EamonCoughlan]

Most of these tunes must have been played millions of times by now, it won't hurt them to have a few extended chords thrown in every once in a while 😄

[@Whatzzzz999]

Nice playing. Great advice.

[@EamonCoughlan]

Thanks, glad it's useful!

[@otherwisedm7027]

Great nvid - love the "forbidden" accompaniment 🤣

[@EamonCoughlan]

Thanks! Now I know at least 2 people watched to the end 😂

[@terilamarco515]

Thank you Eamon for the instructions!

[@EamonCoughlan]

You’re very welcome!

[@doodeen]

Hi Eamon, Thanks for the mention!.This is the best lesson on bouzouki on youtube bar none.I'll start working on this tomorrow.I'll be glad to donate as well.Keep the lessons coming brilliant!.Cheers Jim.

[@LochTalamh]

well done , thx so much

[@EamonCoughlan]

You're welcome!

[@leonardovelazquez1029]

Excellent video, just what I’ve been needing and looking for. Thank you Eamon! Hope to hear more songs and rhythms later on (jigs, hornppipes, waltz etc)

[@EamonCoughlan]

Thanks Leo! Definitely have plans for more along those lines but might be a little while as I'm moving soon. I do have a video on simple jig rhythm already, it's mostly right hand patterns though rather than chord choice.

[@leonardovelazquez1029]

​@@EamonCoughlan excellent I'll check that one out as well. Good luck with the move!

[@WWS322]

I bought an Irish bouzouki and it's a really good one. I don't have trouble playing any chord. But I am so busy with mandolin and guitar I rarely touch the bouzouki. I have only found one book for it and it doesn't have much information.

[@EamonCoughlan]

What kind of information are you looking for?

[@jonathonhunt935]

Thanks Eamon such a helpful dive into understanding transposition of traditional Irish reels. Very much appreciated 🤩

[@EamonCoughlan]

You're welcome! There's a more theoretical approach in my 'Folk music theory' video too!

[@jonathonhunt935]

@@EamonCoughlan cheers Eamon I’ll have a look

[@petterfuhre17]

Excellent tutorial. Since tunes are typically played three rounds, it's so important to gradually vary and develop chord progressions, runs and counter melodies. And if it's the last set of the night, why not don a beret and a scarf and go full jazz.

[@erisch8983]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowlege and talent ! Greetings from germany :) (The End is really funny, too 😎😆)

[@EamonCoughlan]

Thanks, glad it was useful! And good to know at least one person made it to the end 😂

[@hludovicus4478]

Excellent ! So, I guess i can also apply those advices on minor keys tune : looking for ambiguity and such ?

[@EamonCoughlan]

Yes - Drones, Substitutions, Melodic movement, and Following the melody should all work equally well in a minor key! But instead of I IV V, you can usually use I VII in the minor key as your 'starting chords' (eg. Dm and C major in D minor). I will try to do the same thing for a minor tune at some point! In another video I talk more generally about chord building (kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJukhaikjteIa8k) though that one uses major keys as the starting point as well.

[@George_Snow]

Wonderful video, thanks! I'm just finding my feet with more interesting accompaniment so this was perfect. And while your jazz bonus wouldn't get you kicked out of the session, you'd receive some bemused WTF looks! 🤣

[@EamonCoughlan]

Great, glad it's useful! I think it depends on the session. If you're the only chord player and know the room you could get away with it, but if you have other people playing different chords it could go very badly!

[@JosMorn1]

New to your videos. Love them and they are helpful. May I ask what is the make of your bouzouki?

[@EamonCoughlan]

thanks, glad it’s been useful! The bouzouki was made by Daniel Hoban in melbourne dhobanguitars.com

[@isaaccastillo8628]

Hello, what wood used your instrument? The sound is really very bulky and deep, I really like it. God and LORD Jesus bless you dear friend, greetings from Chile, South América 🙋🇨🇱

[@EamonCoughlan]

Hello! It's rosewood back and sides and spruce top.

[@shreepadgandhi6739]

What's the tuning of your instrument? Can I play the Irish Bouzouki by tuning it like mandolin i.e GDAE? Many thanks in advance from Pune city, India

[@EamonCoughlan]

Hi! Mine is tuned in GDAD. You can definitely play bouzouki in mandolin tuning, but a lot of the techniques I cover in these videos won't work as well, because they rely on the open D tuning for drones

[@duelchristian1566]

Are you in GDAD tuning?

[@EamonCoughlan]

yes!